Warning: Long post with pictures at the end.

First I wanted to share that Rachael's grandfather, Patrick Dennis, died this morning at 11:00 Eastern time. She will be flying to Florida on Sunday. Her parents are on the road from Missouri to Florida today. Please pray for the family - for strength and for safety.

All of us who have children have experienced times when they did not tell us the truth. Children do that.

When they are young, children don't really understand lying like we do as we get older. They don't understand that it is wrong. We must teach them. They might deny doing something because they know they will be in trouble if they tell what they really did. Especially if they did something you specifically told them not to do. Parents correct them, hopefully in a loving way. The child may receive some sort of punishment - punishment not to make the child feel bad about themselves - but punishment to correct the problem so they won't do it again. God gives parents the right - the responsibility - to correct and teach their children.

Prov 22:15.....15 A youngster's heart is filled with rebellion, but punishment will drive it out of him.  TLB

Prov 29:15.....15 Scolding and spanking a child helps him to learn. Left to himself, he brings shame to his mother.  TLB

I chose the Living Bible translation of those scriptures because many times when people hear about the "rod" which is used in the King James and NIV, they misunderstand and think the Bible is telling people to beat their children. It is not. Nothing could be further from the truth.

When our kids were little, we generally knew when they were not telling us the truth. Inexperienced liars always leave telltale signs. It might be a look on the face or diverting their eyes away from a parent. Or sometimes they tell the story a little differently each time they tell it. I believe that God will give a Christian parent the information they need. Christian parents, who are honestly trying to live according to God's word, don't raise their kids alone. God obviously knows the truth and can share that truth with the parent if He needs to.

But parents love their children, even when they know they are not telling the truth. We always waited for ours to finally come to us and tell us what they had done - even when we already knew the truth. They did. And we were always so proud of them when they finally decided to come clean.

Even if, as the adults they are now, they were to lie and then confess, we would still love them and be proud of them for doing what is right. Because when you love somebody, you rejoice when they do what is right. And you don't condemn them for the wrong they have done. We, as parents, rejoice the same as the father in the story of the Prodigal Son. The son learned his lesson the hard way, and learned his previous attitude had been wrong. When he came home and asked forgiveness, his father did not beat him over the head with his sin. The father forgave him, and welcomed him home. The father honored the son for doing what was right.

Adults lie. Yes, it's true. And adults leave telltale signs of the lies, also. The reasons for the lies might be much the same as they were when that adult was a child - to cover something they did wrong. But other reasons might be to impress another person or simply for the thrill of telling a lie. When you tell a lie, very often your heart starts beating harder. The rush of adrenaline gives you a high. The thrill comes from seeing how badly you can deceive another person.

But, you see, carrying on with a lie, or multiple lies, is such a burden. When you tell one untruth, then you always have to tell another, and then another, to cover up the first one. It begins to weigh down your spirit. You don't remember what lie you told to what person. Sometimes you can lie long enough that you begin to believe the lies yourself. It causes some serious emotional problems. You eventually withdraw from people you actually care about, because you don't want them to know the truth. It seems like the easiest way out.

But the truth eventually will come out. The Word of God guarantees it.

Luke 12:2-3.....2 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.  NIV

I wonder how many lying people would come clean if they knew that the people they were confessing to would not condemn them, but be proud they decided to do the right thing? You see, if a Christian truly loves you, and desires to do the right thing, they will forgive - not condemn, if you honestly try to make a change. And they will be proud. I know I would be.

Are you hiding lies you need to confess? Is it crushing your spirit? You can change that. Make a fresh, clean start. All you have to do is admit you made mistakes, and go from there.

James 5:16.....16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. NIV

Some of the truth may already be known by those who love you. Those who truly love you, will love you even more, if you do the right thing. I guarantee it.

OK, here's pics of Beth after today's haircut. They cut off 8 inches and layered it.